one out of two for the fourth

There were only two things Charlotte wanted to do to celebrate the Fourth of July: attend a street parade and watch fireworks. The first was a success. The second? Not so much.

After the morning parade -- an entertaining who's who of local DC politics (with every local official running for election marching down the street) -- we went to a friends' house to BBQ and play in the yard. The kids played all right, running and jumping and swimming in the kiddie pool all afternoon. (Play should probably be clarified: the other two toddlers napped in the afternoon while Charlotte hung out with the parents. Play ensued once they were all awake.) 

While swimming in the kiddie pool was fun, the highlight was (not) getting dressed thereafter [video below]. Somehow, in the mayhem upstairs while the adults, Penny and Noah were downstairs, Charlotte's underwear went missing. Like seriously missing. We checked every nook and cranny; it vanished.

The plan was to head downtown for the fireworks later in the evening. Noah would sleep in his stroller while Charlotte enjoyed the view from Daddy's rooftop terrace overlooking the Mall at work. That was the plan. Instead, Charlotte passed out and was a lifeless noodle and Noah was wide awake and giggly. Since Noah was awake, we took him out of his stroller. Charlotte was wedged inside in his stead. Her legs hung about 18 inches past the diaper bag.

We wheeled her around and left her outside until just before the show was to begin. That was a mistake. Everyone knows to never wake a sleeping baby. But. But. But Charlotte so wanted to see the fireworks. Faced with a no-win situation, we woke her and hoped for the best. Like I said, that was a mistake.

Daddy took Charlotte on his lap outside to the front row of the terrace. She was two seats down from the Chairman of the FDIC, faced with a gorgeous view of the Mall and the fireworks. But, alas, it wasn't meant to be. Charlotte watched a few blasts but then decided to go back inside to the cafeteria. Maybe we'll try again next year. Or maybe we'll just leave her sleeping and let the little(r) night owl enjoy the show by himself.